Spreading fake news & rumours during coronavirus pandemic

We’re fighting an ‘infodemic’ as well as a pandemic. A bit of online self-discipline is urgently required.Unreliable and false information is spreading around the world to such an extent, that some commentators are now referring to the new avalanche of misinformation that’s accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic as a ‘disinfodemic’. 

Through its vast social media networks, a wave of inaccuracy is spreading on coronavirus, which causes an illness known as COVID-19.

“We are battling an outbreak of rumours and hoaxes. Fake news that spreads false information and unverified data is particularly dangerous in a public health crisis when misinformation around ‘treatment’ and ‘cures’ for instance, can be harmful or even life threatening," said Shishir Vinay Bhate, Editor in Chief at Yahoo India.

From offering unverified home remedies to tackle the virus, to floating fake advisories asking people to avoid foods such as ice cream and chicken, and sharing conspiracy theories, Indians' phones are being flooded with misinformation.

One message, claiming to be an advisory from UNICEF, debunked last week, asks people to avoid ice creams and other cold foods and recommends frequent washing of clothes because "corona virus when it falls on the fabric remains nine hours.

Another recommends heavy Vitamin C intake, yet another message lists a do-it-yourself (DIY) detection test for the virus.

As the world wrestles with a pandemic caused by a new coronavirus, COVID-19, the authorities around the world are forced to face an avalanche of misinformation / false news about the virus on digital platforms. When it comes to reliability and acceptance of any information, people’s trust have shifted from traditional to internet /social media platforms.

Guy Berger is the Director for Policies and Strategies regarding Communication and Information at UNESCO, and one of the agency’s lead officials on the subject of disinformation. In an interview with UN News, he explained that falsehoods related to all aspects of COVID-19, have become commonplace.  “The motives for spreading disinformation are many, and include political aims, self-promotion, and attracting attention as part of a business model. Those who do so, play on emotions, fears, prejudices and ignorance, and claim to bring meaning and certainty to a reality that is complex, challenging and fast-changing.”

Facebook has collaborated with more than 60 fact-checking agencies, which are rating and reviewing the content on the platform in over 50 International languages all around the world.

As the world wrestles with a pandemic caused by a new coronavirus, COVID-19, the authorities around the world are forced to face an avalanche of false news about the virus on digital platforms. First Draft, a non-profit project which was created to fight online misinformation. First Draft is helping with dedicated training and crisis simulations for reporters covering covid-19 across the world. 

WhatsApp is to impose a strict new limit on message forwarding as the Facebook-owned chat app seeks to slow the dissemination of fake news, the company has announced.If a user receives a frequently forwarded message – one which has been forwarded more than five times – under the new curbs, they will only be able to send it on to a single chat at a time. That is one fifth the previous limit of five chats, imposed in 2019.